| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

COVID-19 sparked new growth in homeschooling

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Tue, 06/27/2023 - 09:46 AM

Since the start of the 2019-2020 school year, the number of students enrolled in homeschooling in Mississippi has risen by at least 4,637 students.

Credit: Bethany Atkinson, Mississippi Today

7 university presidents have left in the last year. Why is turnover so high?

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Fri, 06/23/2023 - 01:00 PM

William LaForge — the former Delta State University president who was suddenly fired last summer — wants you to know this is not about “sour grapes.”

SCSD Implements Clear Bag Policy for School Events for Upcoming School Year

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Fri, 06/23/2023 - 10:55 AM

Simpson County School District (SCSD) will implement a Clear Bag Policy for all school events and activities, beginning with the 2023-24 School Year.

Spectators will be required to carry a clear bag to school events and activities, such as athletic functions, pageants, programs and graduation ceremonies. The Clear Bag Policy is designed to promote safety and security for all attendees of SCSD events and will impact all schools within the district.

SCSD Board of Education Revises Policy Concerning Public Commentary

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Thu, 06/22/2023 - 05:06 PM

The Simpson County School District Board of Education is announcing the revision of one of its policies that will soon allow community members and board members to partake in productive dialogue during regular school board meetings.

Effective July 13, 2023, the Board of Education will provide groups or individuals an opportunity to participate in two-way communication with board members during regular meetings, after revising its Public Participation Policy concerning public commentary.

SCSD Board of Education Revises Policy Concerning Public Commentary

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Thu, 06/22/2023 - 02:52 PM

Simpson County Becomes EXCEL BY 5 Candidate Community

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Thu, 06/22/2023 - 11:29 AM

In its efforts to ensure its children are healthier and better prepared for kindergarten and beyond, Simpson County, Mississippi has earned status as an EXCEL BY 5 Candidate Community.

EXCEL BY 5 is an innovative early childhood community certification process, in the state of Mississippi, focusing on a community’s young children. The program emphasizes the important roles parents, early childhood educators, and communities play in educating their children during their most formative years – birth to age five.

Simpson County Becomes an Excel By 5 Candidate Community

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Wed, 06/21/2023 - 04:47 PM

In its efforts to ensure its children are healthier and better prepared for kindergarten and beyond, Simpson County, Mississippi has earned status as an EXCEL BY 5 Candidate Community.

BFit Gym

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Wed, 06/21/2023 - 09:07 AM

The Magee Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting Wednesday, June 14, for BFit Gym, the newest business venture of Beverly Slover, center with husband Dr. Rusty Slover. It has been a dream in the making since 2007, and in April 2023 that dream was realized. "God opened the door and as I have said several times, would never shut it!" BFit Gym is a 24/7 facility offering weights, cardio equipment and classes.

Shining Starz Pediatric ABA Therapy Clinic

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Wed, 06/21/2023 - 09:01 AM

Shining Starz Pediatric ABA Therapy Clinic is the latest business to be recognized with a ribbon cutting by the Magee Chamber of Commerce. On the front row is co-owner Maggie Griffith, BCBA, and her husband Shane along with clinic staff. Chamber members, family, friends and Magee Mayor Dale Berry also attended. The clinic provides one-on-one therapy to autistic children ages 2-12. Shining Starz currently has three clients with several more to begin in the coming weeks. Not pictured is co-owner Carroll Berry.

Board of Education names Ray Morgigno interim state superintendent

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Fri, 06/16/2023 - 01:48 PM

The Mississippi State Board of Education named Ray Morgigno as interim state superintendent, to serve “tentatively” through June 2024 while the board conducts a national search for a permanent replacement.

The board met in executive session for four and a half hours Thursday before naming Morgigno to the role.

Morgigno will replace Mike Kent, who served as a temporary interim for three months following the Senate rejection of Robert Taylor. Taylor was selected through a national search process last year to replace outgoing State Superintendent Carey Wright.

Southern Miss President named Treasurer of Sun Belt Conference

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Fri, 06/16/2023 - 01:44 PM

The Golden Eagles may be new to the Sun Belt Conference, but Southern Miss is already leaving its mark.

According to a release from the Sun Belt Conference, Southern Miss President Dr. Joe Paul has been named the Treasurer of the Conference and will serve on the Executive Committee. This also puts Paul in the Sun Belt presidential rotation to lead the Conference down the road.

The announcement was made at the close of the Conference’s spring CEO meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

MDE: National report recognizes Mississippi as one of top two states for teacher preparation in the science of reading

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Thu, 06/15/2023 - 03:12 PM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education:

National report recognizes Mississippi as one of top two states for teacher preparation in the science of reading

National report shows Mississippi improved in education, stagnated in other areas of child well-being

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Thu, 06/15/2023 - 11:16 AM

A new national report on child well-being ranks Mississippi 32nd in the nation for education, the only measure in which the state’s rank has meaningfully improved in the last decade.

The 2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book, published annually by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, ranked Mississippi as 48th for overall child well-being, 47th in economic well-being, 50th in health, and 50th in family and community.

Mississippi in top 2 states recognized for teacher preparation in reading

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Thu, 06/15/2023 - 11:12 AM

Jackson State, Southern Miss and Mississippi State were noted as exemplary for their reading teacher prep programs.

MSU leading archaeological dig at former Lorman plantation

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Wed, 06/14/2023 - 04:12 PM

Mississippi State University will lead an archaeological excavation of Prospect Hill, a former 5,000-acre plantation in Jefferson County, June 18-28 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in collaboration with the Archaeological Conservancy and descendent communities.

Landen Maddox reads a book after breakfast on the first of school at Clarksdale Collegiate Public Charter School Wednesday, July 25, 2018. Clarksdale Collegiate is the state’s first rural charter school. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/ Report for America

Charter schools apply to open in Clarksdale and Greenville in 2024

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Wed, 06/14/2023 - 02:46 PM

Two proposed charter schools have made it through the first stage of the annual application process with hopes of opening in the Delta.

This year’s application cycle saw fewer applicants at this stage than in previous years, with five applicants in 2021 and nine in 2022.

The schools are:

Kristy Lucas, left, is onsite manager of Davidson Marble and Granite Works, here with owner Sheaford Davidson.

Business In Review: Monument company grows

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Wed, 06/14/2023 - 09:13 AM

Davidson Marble and Granite Works on Highway 49 South opened its doors just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit; however, it has been servicing Simpson County nearly 80 years through its Canton location.
“My grandparents started Davidson Marble and Granite in Kosciusko in 1937,” Sheaford Davidson stated during a recent interview. He and his wife Lori own and operate the long time family business with locations also in Vicksburg and Canton. The couple has two children, Sawyer, 8, and Sailor Grace, 2.

Over $74,000 awarded to 69 students to attend PRCC for upcoming school year

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Tue, 06/13/2023 - 04:46 PM

The Hancock County Tuition Assistance Program has awarded over $130,000 in tuition assistance to 125 students since the program’s creation in 2021.

A partnership between organizations in Hancock County are helping provide over $74,000 of tuition assistance to 69 students who will attend Pearl River Community College (PRCC) this fall.

State Auditor: Mississippi universities spent $23.4 million on DEI since July 2019

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Mon, 06/12/2023 - 11:24 AM

A new report from the Mississippi State Auditor shows that nearly $11 million of state taxpayer funds went to university DEI programs with 70% of DEI spending in 2023 going to salaries for DEI employees.

Carmen J. Walters speaks during a press conference at Tougaloo College's Woodworth Chapel Monday, March 18, 2019. Walters has been named Tougaloo's new president, replacing Beverly Wade Hogan who is retiring after 17 years. Credit: Eric J. Shelton, Mississippi Today/Report For America

Yet another college president steps down, this time at Tougaloo

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Wed, 06/07/2023 - 04:16 PM

The president of Tougaloo College, a private historically Black institution in north Jackson, is leaving at the end of this month amid growing unhappiness with her leadership, notching another name in the growing list of college presidents in Mississippi who have resigned or been fired in the last year.

Since the start of the 2019-2020 school year, the number of students enrolled in homeschooling in Mississippi has risen by at least 4,637 students.

The Golden Eagles may be new to the Sun Belt Conference, but Southern Miss is already leaving its mark.

Jackson State, Southern Miss and Mississippi State were noted as exemplary for their reading teacher prep programs.

The Hancock County Tuition Assistance Program has awarded over $130,000 in tuition assistance to 125 students since the program’s creation in 2021.

A new report from the Mississippi State Auditor shows that nearly $11 million of state taxpayer funds went to university DEI programs with 70% of DEI spending in 2023 going to salaries for DEI employees.

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